May 23, 2011

While it's true that I don't eat a lot of Italian cuisine, it's also true that I'd absolutely love to visit Italy one day.

Pizza's was an Italian creation originally, right?
I know we've Americanized it to no end, and this is a perfect example of that--baked beans, ham, and lots o' mozzo.
Not a tomater in sight.

It doesn't look like that'll be happening any time soon, but while I wait for some lephrechauns to bring me a pot of gold (yes, Ireland's a nation I'd love to experience as well)(also, Scotland and Australia, to name a couple more...), I'll have to settle for eating food conceptualized there and wearing clothes inspired by its atmosphere.

That little preface brings me to my giveaway. Have you heard of Shabby Apple? It's a really exciting company which makes it a point to offer stylish dresses that allow you to look fabulous without having to compromise anything else. They're also committed to helping women in many nations and are supporting the fight against global poverty by partnering with Unitus, which is a non-profit organization that accelerates access to life-changing financial services for those at the bottom of the economic pyramid. Shabby Apple donates 5% of its net sales to support work in India (where Shabby Apple Dresses has sourced many of its dresses and the textiles used to manufacture its dresses). Every $100 donation from Shabby Apple Dresses provides at least 20 women with access to financial services and the chance to live a life without poverty.

Pretty admirable, right? As if that weren't enough, their dresses are amazing! To get the word out, I'll be offering one random comment-maker her (or his...) choice of the following dresses from the Roamin Holiday line:

To win your pick of these dresses, leave a comment telling me either a place you'd like to visit or the best place you've ever been (even if it's that spaceship into which you were abducted or Grandma's house right down the street). For an extra entry, like Shabby Apple on Facebook, but be sure to let me know that you did so in another comment. I'll close the comments in a week, on May 30th, and I'll contact the winner shortly thereafter. Leave an email address so I can contact you, and good luck! The giveaway is only open to US residents--sorry, all you Italians (and Irish and Scottish and Australians)!

I think you'll all find the Shabby Apple company a dream with which to work and shop!

Shucks, this is one Australian who's not eligible. I would have loved that red dress. Good luck everyone else :) And I have never thought of baked beans on pizza, but it'd be great for brekkie! (Aussie term = breakfast).

During college, I had the joy of working in Yosemite National Park for 3 summers. Waking up to that breathtaking beauty day after day was amazing. The more I explored the valley and high country, the more I appreciated it. Climbing a waterfall before my work shift each day was a dream!

I would love to visit Paris. I know it may sound a bit cheesy, but I've never been outside the US and would like to go sometime during the Tour de France to experience their biking culture and eat a lot of good food!

I'm a plain, simple person. For my money, you can't beat Myrtle Beach, SC: clean, wide beaches, hotels in a variety of prices, and within driving range of half the country. Flying nowadays is such a hassle that I don't know if I'll ever board an airplane again.

I went to El Salvador with Habitat for Humanity a few years ago, and it was a gorgeous and stunning country. The food was amazing (before I got sick and pretty much couldn't keep anything down), and the people were so sweet and caring. That plus ocean, beaches, mountains and volcanoes? It can't be beat.

I'd really like to visit Australia/New Zealand/Japan (since they are over in the same chunk of world I'm grouping them together) or the Mediterranean. That's a lot of answers but I'd like to go to a lot of places!

OMG..seriously, I just stalked their site. I want EVERY SINGLE DRESS. I love the fact that they show you the dresses by body type. That is AWESOME. I need like 20 of their dresses. Ohhh, if I only had the $! I am totally digging that red Maxi dress!

what a cool line - i'm so glad i got to read about shabby apple! as far as travel, one day i'll see italy and greece but for now i'll have to be content with having been to mexico, uk, holland and france : )

The best place I had been to is my mom's ancestral home which has sadly been demolished. Now there is a multi story building in it's place. The house had an open courtyard in the center where my cousin's and i spent countless hours playing under the gorgeous summer sun. I still get dreams about the house.

The place I would love to visit is Cambodia...would love to see Angkor Wat.

I'm not eligible for this contest, but WOW - I hadn't heard of Shabby Apple and I have now got 4 dresses in my sights. I will narrow it down to 2 though. Such beautiful clothes and such an admirable country.

At the moment I don't care where I go but I want a bungalow over a lagoon and a swim-up bar with really good cocktails.